You've said :"Stealth had the opportunity to design its boat to optimize the F-16HP rules and it chose to go with the 8.5-meter mast…why not let the other Designer/builders/manufactures have the same freedom to design? Taipan and Stealth may be the only ones currently in productions but I was under the impression that others were in process of developing one as well."



I think I can give an answer on your the question raised :"why do this ?"



Well my personal opinion is that current rule set is adequate, but then again I understand the concept of rated sailarea or the reduction of sailarea proportional to using a taller mast.



I believe in the formula used as do Texel and ISAF handicap system whose numbers are largely confirmed by the statistical derived numbers of the PN system.



The problem may therefor not be physics but rather the perception of the rules. Even on this forum with the current members this point of area for length was lost. This may show that the current flexibility in mast length may be very hard to explain to not fully involved people with a good grasp of the rule set. And this will undoutably impact on their perception of the class.



The class however is very dependent on the perception of newcomers that the rules are fair; this despite the fact wether the really are or not.



Micheal made the case with referring to the A-cat class. He overlooked the area for height rule, so the A-class case can't simply be used as proof. But and a big but too. Micheal shows how newcomers or less informed members will look at the rules. Many may understand limits on mastheight but far less people may see the connection between height and area in the F16 rules and will thus see the 9 mtr. mast trend in teh A-class as applicable to the F16 class.



We currently have the opportunity to make a decision in this issue without impacting on anybody apart from myself and W.F. we will never have this opportunity again in the future.



I don't have the answer myself and am still weighing the options. But the weighting should be done taken the preception of people into account and not just the physics.



A very important point I think.



Wouter